Rehab after cruciate ligament surgery part1

🦵🏼 REHAB after CRUCIATE LIGAMENT SURGERY Part 1 🦵🏼

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Source: Melbourne ACL Rehabilitation Guide 2.0

Rehab after cruciate ligament surgery part 2
Cruciate Ligament Pre-OP Phase

PRE-OP PHASE – Useful Info

While most think you need to have surgery right after an anterior cruciate ligament tear, it is recommended to first restore swelling reduction, strength increase and full range of motion.

And yes, it is possible, even with a torn ACL. This shows BETTER outcomes at follow-up 2 years post-op.

Measures recommended at this stage:

  1. Ice (recommended in some literatures, yet the role is unclear).
  2. Cycling (Low Aerobic Excercises)
  3. Once mobility is restored and swelling is reduced, start with strengthening exercises as well as light hopping drills
Cruciate ligament phase 1: recovery from surgery

PHASE 1 – Useful info

  • First let the knee calm down for 1-2 weeks with simple movement exercises, quadriceps control, and if necessary ice or compression.
  • Here one could also think of Blood Flow Restriction Training
  • Lag test (sitting at the edge of the bed and being able to passively extend and hold the knee) can help assess neuromuscular control of the quadriceps
Cruciate ligament phase 2: strength and neuromuscular control

PHASE 2 – Useful info

Here, a series of tests* are performed to determine the status in the LSI (Limb Symetry Index = side comparison):

  • Single Leg Bridges Test (85% LSI/min. 20x)
  • Calf Raises Test (85% LSI/min. 20x)
  • Side Bridge Endurance (>85% LSI/>30s)
  • Single Leg Squats Test (85% LSI/min. 10x)
  • Single-leg stand testswith eyes open/closed (45s)
  • Single Leg Press (min. 1.5x body weight)
  • Squat (min. 1.5x body weight)

* For details, see the Melbourne ACL Rehabilitation Guide 2.0.

Cruciate ligament phase 3: running, mobility, landings

PHASE 3 – Useful info

Theme in this phase: jumps, jumps and more jumps – of course in LSI comparison with min. 95% LSI (Limb Symetry Index = side comparison)

  • Single Hop Tests for Distance
  • Triple Hop for Distance
  • Triple Cross Over Hop Test
  • Side Hop Test
  • Single Leg Squat Test (>22 repetitions)
  • Start Excursion (Y-Balance Test)
  • Dynamic balance (one-leg stand tests with head movement)
  • Single Leg Press (1.8 x body weight)
  • Squat (1.8 x body weight)

* For details, see the Melbourne ACL Rehabilitation Guide 2.0.